The U.S. Women’s National Team is gearing up for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup Championship this Saturday in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The highly anticipated matchup against Japan will take place at 3:00 p.m. ET at Port Arthur Stadium, and fans can catch all the action for free on MLB platforms such as MLB.com, MLB.TV, and the MLB mobile app. Additionally, the game will be available to watch on GameTime.
In terms of the pitching matchup, fans can expect to see RHP Miyu Shimizu from Japan facing off against RHP Jillian Albayati from the USA. The last time these two teams met, Team USA emerged victorious in a thrilling 4-3 extra-innings win. Albayati played a crucial role in securing the win with a clutch three-run home run, breaking a tie and ultimately leading her team to victory. This win not only extended Team USA’s unbeaten streak to 10 games but also put an end to Japan’s impressive 39-game win streak.
The Women’s National Team has a rich history in gold medal games, boasting four gold medals and seeking their first title since 2019. In six gold medal game appearances, Team USA holds a 4-2 record, with their last World Cup gold medal coming in 2006 after defeating Japan. The rivalry between Team USA and Japan is intense, with both teams having faced each other 16 times since 2004, resulting in an even 8-8 record.
As for Japan, they enter the gold medal contest with a 4-1 record in the 2024 World Cup Finals, showcasing a strong offense and a dominant pitching staff. Japan’s starter, Shimizu, has been impressive on the mound, while Miu Shiraishi leads the team in batting with a .615 average and seven RBIs. On the other hand, Team USA has displayed a balanced team effort both offensively and defensively, with several players contributing significantly to their success.
Leading Team USA is manager Veronica Alvarez, a five-time Team USA player and three-time manager who has a wealth of experience in the sport. Alvarez is joined by pitching coach Reynol Mendoza and assistant coach Alex Oglesby, both of whom have been part of title-winning coaching staffs in the past. The team’s roster is filled with experienced players like Anna Kimbrell, Meggie Meidlinger, and Kelsie Whitmore, who bring a combined 29 seasons of experience to the table.
To stay updated on all the action with the Women’s National Team, fans can follow @USABaseballWNT on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. With the stage set for an exciting showdown between Team USA and Japan, baseball fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the outcome of this highly anticipated championship game.